Sectional scaffold



Sept. 14, 1948.

Filed H. A. HARRISON I 2 ,449,069

- SECTIONAL SCAFFOLD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 21, 1946 INVENTOR. M a. A an/14:44am

Afforneys H. A. HARRISON SECTIONAL SCAFFOLD Sept. 14, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 21, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

Attorneys n nnnnn A E2.

Patented Sept. 14, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SECTIONAL SCAFFOLD Hugh Adam Harrison, Waterloo, Iowa Application November 21, 1946, Serial No. 711,256

((31. SOL-2O 12 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally to the scaiiold art.

More particularly this invention pertains to certain new and useful improvements in sectional scaffolds of the type adapted to be assembled adjacent buildings or other large structures for use in connection with the erection or maintenance of the same.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a sectional scaffold of the type described which may be readily assembled and disassembled at a construction site and which will occupy a minimum of storage space when in knockeddown or disassembled condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sectional scaffold, the various components of which are constructed substantially entirely of welded metal tubing resulting in a lightweight but strong structure which may be relatively inexpensively fabricated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a scaiiold constructed substantially entirely of metal tubing of rectangular cross section so that joints formed by the various interengaging mem bers will inherently resist relative turning movement.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a sectional scaffold having a novel interlocking joint for attaching together vertically and horizontally adjacent scaffold sections.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a sectional scaffold having a cantilever extension structure selectively engageable therewith in different positions.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel disconnectible Joint adapted to be used in assembling the structural elements of a sectional scaffold.

The foregoing as well as other and further objects and advantages of the invention together with a more complete understanding of the nature thereof will becomereadily apparent to one skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed specification taken'in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is an over-all perspective view of a complete scafiold unit in accordance with the present invention with certain parts broken away better to illustrate the construction and with alternate positions of certain parts shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a top perspective view to an enlarged scale of one of the corner joints shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3v is a cross-sectional view of the joint 2 taken in the vertical plane which includes the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the stanchions forming a part of the present invention,

and

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through one of the adjustable footings of the scaffold.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings and in particular to Fig. 1, an improved scafiold section in accordance with the present invention is seen to comprise two end trestles each having a pair of hollow vertical standards I0 interconnected at their top ends by transoms I2 and each including a diagonal brace [4 across each corner. Each oi the vertical standards III is provided with a plurality of vertically disposed rectangular sockets l6 suitably attached thereto as by welding or the like, only one such socket [6 being provided on each of the opposite side walls of each standard In at points spaced below the top of the latter, and a plurality of such sockets Ill being disposed in spaced relation on the front wall of each standard. It will be noted that the opposite side walls of each of the vertical standards l0 areprovided with apertures in the form of upwardly open notches l l of rectangular shape for a purpose which will be hereinafter described. The trestles are preferably made of steel tubing of rectangular cross section, the various elements [0, I2 and 44 of each trestle being suitably secured together as by welding or the like to form a relatively rigid structure.

The end trestles of each scaffold section are interconnected by a pair of transverse frames each including a generally horizontal beam 20 having a relatively short, vertical member 22 at each end and a pair of diagonal braces 24 extending from the lower portion of the vertical member 22 to the central portion of the beam 20. The members 20, 22, 24 are also prefer-ably made of steel tubing of rectangular cross section suitably welded or otherwise secured in assembled relation in a manner similar to that oi. the end trestles previously described.

As shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, a relatively' short socket l9 iswelded along its transverse edges to the underside of the beam 20 adjacent each end of the latter. These sockets i9are of rectangular cross section and are suitably dimensioned to receive the top ends of the members 22, which are preferably welded in place therein. The sides of the sockets l9 are of approximately the same thickness as the sides of the sockets l6 which slidably receive the lower ends is of the members 22 so that the latter will be substantially uniformly and rigidly spaced from their associated standards ill and be parallel thereto when in assembled position.

The horizontal beam 20 is provided at each end with a vertically extending rectangular stud 26 having its ends tapered as indicated b reference numeral 28 (Figs. 2 and 3), and is split as by means of slits therein indicated by reference numeral 30, In the assembled position th lower portions of the studs 26 project downwardly into cavities formed by the hollow top ends of the ver! tical standards H1, and the lower portions of the vertical members 22 are engaged within their ase sociated sockets E5. The slits 3i] providea slight springing action which together with the tapered portions 28 insure both ease of assembly and firm engagement subsequent thereto. The ends, of the horizontal beams 20 are adapted to fit snugly within notches ll, which are of substantially the same depth as the former, so that the transverse frames and end trestles may be firmly secured together in a substantially rigid condition.

Referring nowparticularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated the manner of assembling a plurality of scaffold sections to form an integrated structure. In this figure the full lines show a single transverse frame and end trestle joint as previously described, and the do ted lines indicate portions of adjacent sections assembled thereto. It is to be particularly noted that the width of each stud 2-6 is approximately one-half the internal width of its associated standard ill so that both the stud 26 and a stud 2'!- of the same width formed at the end of; an adjacent horizontal beam 2] may be receievd within the hollow top end of a single standard. The end of the horizontal beam 21 in this figure is received within the notch l-l formed in the side wall of the standard ill opposite the notch which receives the similar horizontal beam 23, and the lower portion of the vertical member 23 of the adjacent transverse frame is received within that socket l6 which is opposite the similar socket which receives the lower endof the vertical member- 22. There isalso shown in dotted lines in Fig-.3 the open bottom end of an adjacent vertical; standard l3 which is similar in substantially all respects to the standard Ill. The standard i3 is shown in this figure in the position which it assumes during assembly as it 'is just about to be slipped over' the tapered upwardly projecting portions of the studs 26 and 21-. It will be understood that similar upwardly projecting portions of'adjacent vertical. standards l3 at all four corners of each scaifold section so that the scaffold structure may be extended both vertically and horizontally to any desired extent.

In most cases it will be found desirable to provide some means for adjusting the effective length of each vertical standard to accommodate the usual unevenness of the terrain at most construction sites and to provide a level platform on top of the scaffold. For this purpose there has been provided an adjustable footing at the bottom of each of the vertical standards, one such adjustable footing being illustrated in Fig. of the drawings. As shown in this figure, the open bottom end of each standard of the lowermost series-which rests upon the ground is adapted to abut against a shoulder 32 formed at one end" of adouble nut; 34 which extends, upwardly within the standard It. In actual Practice the shoulder 32 and double nut 34 may be readily constructed Icy-welding together a pair of conventional nuts and a suitably apertured washer, the parts bein selected, of course, of sufilcient strength to support a proportionate share of the total scaffold load. The actual ground contacting member is formed as a foot piece 35 having a suitably squared portion 38 adapted to be engaged by a wrench or other tool for rotating the same, and is securely attached to the lower end of an elongated threaded bolt 40. The bolt 40 extends upwardly in threaded engagement with the double nut 34 into the interior of the standard HIV and is preferably provided with a guide collar 42 adjacent its top end. It will be understood that rotation of the bolt 40 by engagement of a suitable tool with the squared portion 38 will serve to adjust the position of the bolt relative to the double nut 34 to vary the distance which the foot piece 36 projects outwardly from the standard Ill. The collar 42 serves to limit the maximum outward movement of the bolt 40 by its engagement with the top of the nut 34.

At any particular vertical level of the assembled scaffold it is frequently desirable to provide a horizontal extension platform, and, referring again to Fig. 1 of the drawings, such an extension platform is illustrated as extending outwardlyfrom the front of the scaffold adjacent the top portion thereof. This extension platform is seen to comprise a pair of cantilever extension brackets having horizontal beams 44 suitably attached at their outer ends as by welding or the liketo inclined braces 46 and being interconnected with said braces adjacent their inner ends by means of vertical braces 48. The extreme inner ends of the members 44 and 4.6 are. provided with short dependin lugs 50. of rectangular cross section, respectively engageable within pairs of vertically spaced sockets l8 in non-turning relation. At their outer ends adjacent their point of juncture the members 44 and 46 are attached, as by means of welding, to a vertically disposed socket 52, also preferably of rectangular cross section, which in turn is secured to the outer ends of a horizontal extension beam 54 extending therebetween, -Vertical stanchions 53 having forked fingers 58 at their top ends adapted to receive and support a guard rail 69 extend upwardly from the sockets 52 to complete the extension platform, and as shown particularly in Fig. 4, each stanchion 56 is also preferably of rectangular cross section and is provided with a collar 62 to limit itsdownward movement within the socket 52; 7

It will also be noted in Fig. 1 that the extension platform may .be selectively positioned at various locations one of which is indicated by broken lines in this, figure. Regardless of its location, however, the extensiQn. platform is constructed in substantially the same manner, an d;,as shown in P a, 1, u h al e ate. platf m. comprises horizontal beams 44 and 54, braces 46 and 48, 11188 50. nd o ets. re eivi e-stancbions. 5.6. r h rm re p nding u n hef pece ararlable. Similar e t s o v Platform. m y be mounte at h b k o the s af o d. n. ither. ofthe. pai of o kets. 5 Pro ded o ha purms or. opti nally. the ian hiqns fimay hes ated in the top sockets It! directly in the event the extension la 2 .1 nqtre uire d for anarticular installation.

It will a nt. rqmihe r oi that. the. various structural elements of the improved scaffold in accordance with the present invention m y be assembled n ar o s ways o me tth p i la u rements. o j giv n s tuation. and that the number of sections in the complete scaffold assembly may be varied within wide limits without requiring any special structures other than the basic scaffold elements disclosed herein. Obviously, numerous other modifications, alterations, and variations of the specific structure disclosed herein as a preferred embodiment can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A disconnectible joint for use in assembling the structural elements of a sectional scaffold comprising, a standard having a hollow top provided with an aperture therein in the form of a notch extending downwardly from the upper edge of the top, a socket on said standard below said aperture, a frame having a member engageable in said socket and a beam engageable in said aperture, and a stud onthe end of said beam adapted to be received within the hollow top of said standard.

2. A disconnectible joint for use in assembling the structural elements of a sectional scaffold comprising, a standard having a hollow top provided with apertures in a pair of its opposite side wall-s, sockets on opposite side walls of said standard below said apertures, a pair of frames having members engageable in said sockets and beams engageable in said apertures, and studs on the ends of said beams and adapted to be received within the hollow top of said standard, each of said studs being approximately one-half the internal width of said standard whereby the latter may accommodate a pair of studs of adjacent frames.

3. A disconnectible joint for use in assembling the structural elements of a sectional scaffold comprising, a standard having a hollow open '5 top provided with apertures in a pair of its opposite side walls, vertical disposed sockets attached to opposite side walls of said standard below said apertures, a pair of frames having member-s engageable in said sockets and beams engageable in said apertures, and studs on the ends of said beams and adapted to be partially received within the open top of said standard, each of said studs being approximately one-half the internal width of said standard whereby the latter may accommodate a pair of studs of adjacent frames and including portions adapted to extend exteriorly and upwardly from said standard to receive the open bottom portion of an adjacent standard.

4. A disconnectible joint for use in assembling the structural elements of a sectional scaffold comprising, a vertical tubular standard of rectangular cross section having an open top provided with rectangular notches in a pair of its opposite side walls, vertically disposed sockets attached to opposite side walls of said standard below said notches, a pair of frames having vertical members engageable in said sockets and horizontal beams engageable in said notches, and vertical, tapered, split studs attached to the ends of said beams and adapted to be partially received within the open top of said standard, each of said studs being approximately one-half the internal width of said standard whereby the latter may accommodate a pair of studs of adjacent frames and including portions adapted to extend exteriorly and upwardly from said standard to receive the open bottom portion of an adjacent standard.

5. A'scafiold comprising a plurality of vertical standards having upwardly open cavities in their top ends, means forming side apertures adjacent the top of each standard and opening into said cavities, vertically disposed sockets on opposite sides of said standards below said apertures, and means interconnecting the top portions of said standards including horizontal beams having studs at their opposite ends and vertical members engageable at their bottom portions within said sockets, each end of said horizontal beams being engageable within one of said apertures and having a portion of its stud projecting into the interior of its associated cavity, and the width of said studs being approximately one-half the internal Width of said cavities whereby a single standard is selectively operable to interconnect a pair of adjacent beams.

6. A scaffold constructed substantially entirely of tubing and comprising, a plurality of vertical standards, means forming side apertures adjacent the top of each standard, vertically disposed sockets on opposite sides of said standards below said apertures, and. means interconnecting the top portions of said standards including horizontal beams having vertical, tapered, split studs at their opposite ends and vertical members engageable at their bottom portions within said sockets, each end of said horizontal beams being engageable within one of said apertures and having a portion of its studprojecting into the interior of its associated standard, and the width of said studs being'approximately one-half the internal width of said standards whereby a single standard is selectively operable to interconnect a pair of adjacent beams.

7. A scaffold constructed substantially entirely of tubing and comprising, a plurality of end trestles each having a pair of vertical standards, means forming side apertures adjacent the top or each standard, vertically disposed sockets on opposite sides of said standards below said apertures, and transverse frames interconnecting the top portions-of said trestles each including a horizontal beam having vertical, tapered, split studs at its opposite ends and a pair of vertical members engageable at their bottom portions within said sockets, each end of said horizontal beam being engageable within one of said apertures and having a portion of its stud pro- ,jecting into the interior of its associated standard, and the width of said studs being approximately one-half the internal width of said standards, whereby a single standard is selectively operable to interconnect a pair of adjacent frames. 1

8. A scaffold constructed substantially entirely of metal tubing of rectangular cross section and comprising, a plurality of end trestles each having a pairof vertical standards, means forming upwardly open, rectangular notches in the top ends of a pair of the opposite side walls of each standard, vertically disposed sockets attached to the opposite side walls of said standards below said notches, and transverse frames interconnecting the top portions of said trestles each including a horizontal beam having vertical, tapered, split studs at its opposite ends and a pair of vertical members engageable at their bottom portions within said sockets, each end of said horizontal beam being engageable within one of said notches and having a portion of its stud projecting into the interior of its associated standard, and the Width of said studs being approximately one-half the internal width of said standards, whereby a single standard is selectively operable to interconnect a pair of adjacent frames.

9. A scaifold constructed substantially entirely of metal tubing of rectangular cross section and comprising, a pair of end trestles each having a plurality of vertical standards interconnected at their top ends by a transom and including at least two diagonal braces, each of said standards being provided with a pair of upwardly open rectangular notches in its top end and having a plurality of vertically spaced metal sockets attached thereto, a pair of transverse frames interconnecting the top portions of said trestles each including a horizontal beam having Vertical, tapered, split studs at its opposite ends, a pair of vertical members engageable at their bottom portions in a, pair of said sockets, and at least two diagonal braces interconnecting said horizontal beams and vertical members, eachend of said horizontal beam being engageable within one of said notches and having a portion of its stud projecting into the interior of its associated standard.

10. A scaffold constructed substantially en tirely of metal tubing of rectangular .cross section and comprising, a pair of end trestles each having a plurality of vertical standards interconnected at their top ends by a transom and including at least two diagonal braces, each of said standards being provided with a pair of upwardly open rectangular notches in its opposite side walls and having a plurality of vertically spaced metal sockets attached thereto, a pair of transverse frames interconnecting the top portions of said trestles each including a horizontal beam having vertical, tapered, split studs at its opposite ends, a pair of vertical members engag-eable at their bottom portions in a pair of said sockets, and at least two diagonal braces interconnecting said horizontal beams and vertical members, each end of said horizontal beam being engageable within one of said notches and having a portion of its stud projecting into the interior of its associated standard, and at least two cantilever extension brackets having vertical lugs selectively engageable within pairs of said sockets and a horizontal extension beam interconnecting their outerends.

11. A scaffold constructed substantially entirely of metal tubing of rectangular cross section and comprising, a pair of end trestles each having a plurality of vertical standards interconnected at their top ends by a transom and including at least two diagonal braces, each of said standards being provided with a pair of upwardly open rectangular notches in its opposite side walls and having a plurality :of vertically spaced metal sockets attached thereto, a pair oftransverse frames interconnecting the top portions of said trestles each including a horizontal beam having vertical, tapered, split studs at its opposite ends, a, pair of vertical members engageable at their bottom portion in a pair of said sockets, and at least two diagonal braces interconnecting said horizontal beams and vertical members, each end of said horizontal beam being engageable within one of said notches and having a portion of its stud projecting into the interior of its associated standard, at least two cantilever extension brackets having vertical lugs selectively engageable within pairs of said sockets and a horizontal extension beam interconnecting their outer ends, and stanchions projecting upwardly from the outer ends of said brackets and adapted to carry a guard rail thcre ct-Wcen- 12. A scaii'old constructed substantially entirely of metal tubing of rectangular cross section and comprising, a pair of end trestles each having a plurality of vertical standards interconnected at their tori; ends by a transom and including at least two diagonal braces, each of said standards being provided with a pair of upwardly open rectangular notches in its opposite side walls at the top ends of th latter and having a plurality of vertically spaced metal sockets attached thereto, a pair of transverse frames interconnecting the top portions of said trestles each including a horizontal beam having vertical, tapered, split studs at its opposite ends, a pair of vertical members engageable at their bottom portions in a pair of said sockets, and at least two diagonal braces interconnecting said horizontal beams and vertical members,- each end of said horizontal beam being ,engageable within one of said notches and having a portion of its stud projecting into the interior of its ,associated standard, at least two cantilever extension brackets having vertical lugs selectively engageable within pairs of said sockets and a horizontal extension beam interconnecting their outer ends, stanchions projecting upwardly from the outer ends of said brackets and adapted to carry a uard rail therebetween, and means at the bottom of said standards for adjusting the eiiective length thereof.

HUGH ADAM HARRISQ'N.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date vtl "use. Au

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